Singapore Airlines moves up to 2nd in Skytrax’s World Best Airlines Award

SINGAPORE — National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) has been named as the world’s second best airline in the latest passenger survey by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax, moving up one spot from last year’s rankings.

SIA came in behind Qatar Airways, which was second placed in 2016. Last year’s top airline, Emirates, fell to fourth in the latest rankings, behind Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways.

Skytrax announced the world’s Top 100 Airlines, voted for by airline customers, at the World Airline Awards held at the Paris Air Show in France on Tuesday (June 20). Among other accolades SIA received included being named the Best Airline in Asia, the World’s Best Business Class seat and for having the Best Premium Economy Onboard Catering.

The Singapore national carrier placed 5th for the World’s Best Cabin Staff, 3rd for World’s Best Inflight Entertainment, 9th for World’s Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness, 5th for World’s Best First Class, 3rd for World’s Best Business Class, 4th for World’s Best Premium Economy Class and 5th for World’s Best Economy Class.

"While we are not in the business to win awards, we are honoured whenever we receive them," an SIA spokesperson said. 

"Awards serve as a validation of our efforts in continuing to invest in and enhance the three main pillars of our brand promise — service excellence, product leadership and network connectivity — and are a validation of the hard work and dedication of our staff worldwide. 

"This is especially so as we celebrate our 70th anniversary this year."

Meanwhile, SIA subsidiary SilkAir came in 8th for World’s Best Regional Airline, while Malaysia’s AirAsia was once again named as the best low-cost airline, both in Asia and in the world.

Referred to as the “Oscars of the aviation industry”, the World Airline Awards tracks customer satisfaction of airline services and performance globally.

A survey was conducted among 19.87 million airline passengers from 105 countries between August 2016 and May 2017 to determine the winners.

The top 100 airlines in 2017 according to Skytrax:

1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. ANA All Nippon Airways
4. Emirates
5. Cathay Pacific
6. EVA Air
7. Lufthansa
8. Etihad Airways
9. Hainan Airlines
10. Garuda Indonesia
11. Thai Airways
12. Turkish Airlines
13. Virgin Australia
14. Swiss Int'l Air Lines
15. Qantas Airways
16. Japan Airlines
17. Austrian
18. Air France
19. Air New Zealand
20. Asiana Airlines
21. Bangkok Airways
22. KLM
23. China Southern
24. Hong Kong Airlines
25. Finnair
26. AirAsia
27. Cathay Dragon
28. Norwegian
29. Air Canada
30. Aeroflot
31. Malaysia Airlines
32. Delta Air Lines
33. Virgin Atlantic
34. Korean Air
35. China Airlines
36. Alaska Airlines
37. Aegean Airlines
38. Aer Lingus
39. jetBlue Airways
40. British Airways
41. easyJet
42. Iberia
43. Virgin America
44. Jetstar Airways
45. AirAsiaX
46. Air Astana
47. Vietnam Airlines
48. Ethiopian Airlines
49. South African Airways
50. Avianca
51. Saudi Arabian Airlines
52. Azul Brazilian
53. Oman Air
54. Southwest Airlines
55. Porter Airlines
56. SilkAir
57. Indigo
58. WestJet
59. LATAM
60. Scoot
61. Jetstar Asia
62. TAP Air Portugal
63. Alitalia
64. Eurowings
65. SAS Scandinavian
66. Thomson Airways
67. Philippine Airlines
68. Brussels Airlines
69. Copa Airlines
70. Air Transat
71. Azerbaijan Airlines
72. China Eastern
73. Jet Airways
74. American Airlines
75. Fiji Airways
76. Ryanair
77. Air Mauritius
78. United Airlines
79. LOT Polish
80. Air Seychelles
81. SriLankan Airlines
82. Icelandair
83. Juneyao Airlines
84. Gulf Air
85. Air Berlin
86. Hawaiian Airlines
87. American Eagle Airlines
88. Vueling
89. Air Nostrum
90. Tigerair
91. Kenya Airways
92. Royal Brunei Airlines
93. Air Malta
94. Xiamen Airlines
95. S7 Airlines
96. Peach
97. Royal Air Maroc
98. Air China
99. Air Canada rouge
100. Aeromexico